Sponsored

A/C Stopped Working - Relay?

DRVMN

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
206
Reaction score
644
Location
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Occupation
High School Mathematics Instructor
We hit 65 degrees yesterday (which is hot for Minnesota in November). I turned my A/C on and got nothing. The lights on the control buttons were illuminated so I don't have a fuse problem. Wondering if the A/C relay (by the battery) is bad? Anyone else have this happen? I know it's under warranty but if it's something simple like a bad relay or fuse, it's just as easy for me to fix it.

Thank You in advance for any help/advice you have.

David
Sponsored

 

Tom_C

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tom
Joined
Apr 17, 2021
Threads
35
Messages
1,972
Reaction score
4,390
Location
Virginia, USA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger Lariat SuperCab FX4
Occupation
System Admin, Retired
What was the temp set to on the panel? Perhaps you had it set higher than the cabin temp and the system decided it didn't need AC

ADDED: Er, yeah, what RP said.
 

machinist85

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
200
Reaction score
488
Location
n/a
Vehicle(s)
n/a
Take a look under the hood and verify the the compressor clutch is engaging. If the compressor is turning then it's probably a stuck blend door. If its not then it could be a fuse, relay or there could be a refrigerant leak.
 
OP
OP
DRVMN

DRVMN

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
206
Reaction score
644
Location
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Occupation
High School Mathematics Instructor
Update: I finally brought my Ranger in to check the A/C. Wanted to wait until it got warmer out here in Minnesota. They said nothing was wrong and that the ambient temperature sensor is what keeps the compressor from engaging when the temps are cooler. Time will tell as we begin to warm up.
 

JaysOnTheEDGE

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jay
Joined
Oct 17, 2019
Threads
13
Messages
804
Reaction score
1,489
Location
North Carolina
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger XLT Sport 4x4, 2021 Escape SEL AWD
Occupation
Office Equipment Technician
Does it work if it's on LO? I always keep mine on LO and it will blow cold air no matter what the outside temp is.
 


OP
OP
DRVMN

DRVMN

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
206
Reaction score
644
Location
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Occupation
High School Mathematics Instructor
Update to the Update . . . Still no cold air flowing after the dealership I purchased my Ranger from said nothing was wrong. I took my Ranger to a different dealership and they found the problem. An expansion valve in the A/C system was leaking. They ordered a new part and it should be here in one day. The second dealership/service department did things the right way - they tested the refrigerant level and determined it was low. They charged the system and added dye, and traced the leak. The first dealership just blew me off as someone that didn't have a clue about how vehicles work. I told them the compressor was not engaging (couldn't see it engage and couldn't hear it engage). I was told it was because it was too cold outside. I have a heated garage and it was above 70 degrees in their service bay, not to mention they kept my Ranger overnight indoors). I was charged $150 because they did not find anything wrong. The A/C stopped working in late October and I was told to wait until Spring to bring my Ranger in. Had my truck out last weekend in 85 degree weather and no A/C. I can't wait to revisit the first dealership with the invoice from the second dealership and see the look on their face when I demand a refund for the $150 they charged me for doing nothing but blowing me off.

This is strike three against this dealership. First strike - telling me my Ranger did not come with floor mats, when not only did it come with floor mats, they were upgraded to the all-weather floor mats according to the window sticker. Strike Two - not tightening the skid plate when performing an oil change, and now Strike Three - the whole A/C issue. At the least, they should have tested the level in the A/C system and shown me with an A/C thermometer (I own a few of them) that cold air was blowing through the vents.

Still under factory warranty, so no cost to me . . . I have just over 25,000 miles and it's a 2021. Not sure why the first dealership didn't see that as an opportunity to charge Ford for labor/parts!
 
OP
OP
DRVMN

DRVMN

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
206
Reaction score
644
Location
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Occupation
High School Mathematics Instructor
Update to the Update . . . The A/C parts - Expansion valve and seals finally arrived last Friday and I now have a fully working air conditioning system again. The valve was in weeks ago but no seals, so that is what I was waiting on.
 

Grumpaw

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
84
Messages
5,863
Reaction score
29,211
Location
Fishersville, Va.
Vehicle(s)
Previous 2021 Ranger, Now 2019 Ford Expedition
Occupation
Navy Vet., Retired Police Sgt., Grumpy Old Senior Citizen
Did you ever get a refund from the first dealership ???
 
OP
OP
DRVMN

DRVMN

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
206
Reaction score
644
Location
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Occupation
High School Mathematics Instructor
Did you ever get a refund from the first dealership ???
Working on that now . . . just sent them a letter with service records from new dealership. We'll see how they respond. I will post an update.
 

ControlNode

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Nov 29, 2021
Threads
16
Messages
1,710
Reaction score
3,643
Location
Eastern NC
Vehicle(s)
84 Civic "2000S"/16 Focus RS/21 Ranger XLT
Occupation
Computers
Update to the Update . . . Still no cold air flowing after the dealership I purchased my Ranger from said nothing was wrong. I took my Ranger to a different dealership and they found the problem. An expansion valve in the A/C system was leaking. They ordered a new part and it should be here in one day. The second dealership/service department did things the right way - they tested the refrigerant level and determined it was low. They charged the system and added dye, and traced the leak. The first dealership just blew me off as someone that didn't have a clue about how vehicles work. I told them the compressor was not engaging (couldn't see it engage and couldn't hear it engage). I was told it was because it was too cold outside. I have a heated garage and it was above 70 degrees in their service bay, not to mention they kept my Ranger overnight indoors). I was charged $150 because they did not find anything wrong. The A/C stopped working in late October and I was told to wait until Spring to bring my Ranger in. Had my truck out last weekend in 85 degree weather and no A/C. I can't wait to revisit the first dealership with the invoice from the second dealership and see the look on their face when I demand a refund for the $150 they charged me for doing nothing but blowing me off.

This is strike three against this dealership. First strike - telling me my Ranger did not come with floor mats, when not only did it come with floor mats, they were upgraded to the all-weather floor mats according to the window sticker. Strike Two - not tightening the skid plate when performing an oil change, and now Strike Three - the whole A/C issue. At the least, they should have tested the level in the A/C system and shown me with an A/C thermometer (I own a few of them) that cold air was blowing through the vents.

Still under factory warranty, so no cost to me . . . I have just over 25,000 miles and it's a 2021. Not sure why the first dealership didn't see that as an opportunity to charge Ford for labor/parts!
The Ranger comes with dye in it from the factory, not need to add it, just look for the leak with a black light. That is how I found the leak on mine when it stopped working. Dealer was showing the seals on backorder, so I ordered them off eBay and they refunded me.
 
OP
OP
DRVMN

DRVMN

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
14
Messages
206
Reaction score
644
Location
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Occupation
High School Mathematics Instructor
The Ranger comes with dye in it from the factory, not need to add it, just look for the leak with a black light. That is how I found the leak on mine when it stopped working. Dealer was showing the seals on backorder, so I ordered them off eBay and they refunded me.
When I first brought my Ranger in, the A/C was not working at all and the compressor shut down because the refrigerant had all leaked out. Not sure if there was enough dye in the system at that point, so that's why they charged the system, added dye and then found the leak.
 

ControlNode

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Nov 29, 2021
Threads
16
Messages
1,710
Reaction score
3,643
Location
Eastern NC
Vehicle(s)
84 Civic "2000S"/16 Focus RS/21 Ranger XLT
Occupation
Computers
There should have been enough still there where it leaked out to still show up under a black light unless you detailed under the hood or something since it stopped working. Mine stopped working and then I ordered the black light and it came in a couple weeks later and I still could find it. I pulled the fuse for the AC clutch once mine stopped blowing cold air.
 

lou5560

Well-Known Member
First Name
Louis
Joined
Aug 16, 2021
Threads
2
Messages
106
Reaction score
234
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Vehicle Showcase
1
Update: I finally brought my Ranger in to check the A/C. Wanted to wait until it got warmer out here in Minnesota. They said nothing was wrong and that the ambient temperature sensor is what keeps the compressor from engaging when the temps are cooler. Time will tell as we begin to warm up.
My 2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 off-road stopped working last Saturday. When I pulled up to a store it was blowing ice cold. I shut the vehicle off & went inside for 10 minutes. When I came out of the store & started my Ranger it was blowing hot air. We are in the middle of a heat wave here in New Jersey. Unfortunately the local Ford Dealer can not get me in for service until August 11th. At least I'm saving fuel lol
 

lou5560

Well-Known Member
First Name
Louis
Joined
Aug 16, 2021
Threads
2
Messages
106
Reaction score
234
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Off Road
Vehicle Showcase
1
There should have been enough still there where it leaked out to still show up under a black light unless you detailed under the hood or something since it stopped working. Mine stopped working and then I ordered the black light and it came in a couple weeks later and I still could find it. I pulled the fuse for the AC clutch once mine stopped blowing cold air.
Was it just a fuse ?
Sponsored

 
 








Top